~:[CH15 - Day 131]:~ At Least You're There

 
~:[CH15 - Day 131]:~ At Least You're There

Maybe I should have worn one of those half jerseys. I am a proud anteater, but my family is also from Hawaii, so today felt like a win-win situation. However, still yet, with no connection to the university, it was quite painful to experience the loss. At the start, the 'eaters were in control as they clearly controlled the first set. They struggled a bit in the second set, but in the third and fourth set, I felt like they had a chance. In the end, they fell short. Decked out proudly in UCI gear, I had to walk by hoards of Hawaii fans. It made me sad every time I did, but I was proud of UCI for being there. You always want to win in that situation, but how many teams can say they've been there? Outside hitter Louis Sakanoko was too much to handle and their libero and others made some incredible digs to help kill the momentum of the 'eaters. There were a few chances to regain momentum, but ultimately, Hawaii pulled away. In the end, I could have thought of it as a wasted trip, but I enjoyed the experience of being there, loved being around the loyal UCI fans, had a great meal in Westwood and even ran into an alumni. I was glad I'm there and the 'eaters should be proud that they were too. It will sting a bit that they were that close to a championship, but in the end, there can only be one winner and tonight, Hawaii was just better. Congrats to both teams, as you should both be proud of being here in the national spotlight. Even in defeat, let's try our best to be proud of all the accomplishments we reach, even if they fall short of our ultimate goal.